Soft tissue repair apparatus and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a biological soft tissue implant device and method. The implant device is designed for use in the treatment of biological soft tissue and to be capable of interacting with nearby biological soft tissue or bone so as to anchor the implant device and biological soft tissue being treated. In one embodiment, the implant device prevents a biceps tendon from retracting through the bicipital sheath after a tenotomy is performed.

1 . A biological soft tissue implant device comprising: 
 a fastener attachable to a first biological soft tissue; and    an anchor capable of interacting with a second biological soft tissue or a bony tissue such that retraction of the first biological soft tissue is limited in at least one direction.    
     
     
         2 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises at least one of: at least one spike, ridges, grooves, at least one latch, at least one suture passing through the first biological soft tissue, at least one suture wrapped around the first biological soft tissue, at least one hinge, at least one crimping deformation, engageable cooperating parts, at least one gripping surface, at least one retaining ring, at least one gripping beam, or at least one hook and capture mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . The implant device of  claim 2  wherein the engageable cooperating parts are at least one of: snapably engageable, slidably engageable, hookably engageable, rotatably engageable, or biasedly engageable.  
     
     
         4 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the anchor comprises at least one of: at least one barb, at least one spike, at least one flap, at least one bar, at least one beam, at least one hook, a pointed implant end configured to anchor when the implant device toggles, or at least one expansion mechanism.  
     
     
         5 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the fastener comprises at least one engaging element and at least one locking element.  
     
     
         6 . The implant device of  claim 5  wherein the at least one engaging element comprises at least one of: at least two cooperating parts for trapping the first biological soft tissue, at least one gripping surface, a suture passable through the first biological soft tissue, a suture wrappable around the first biological soft tissue, a suture and component combination wherein the suture clinches the first biological soft tissue against the component, at least one hook and capture mechanism, at least one spike for piercing the first biological soft tissue, or at least one barb for piercing the first biological soft tissue.  
     
     
         7 . The implant device of  claim 5  wherein the at least one locking element comprises at least one of: snap-fitting parts, crimping, biasing, at least one knot, press-fitting, at least one thread, at least one barb, at least one pin, at least one receiver, at least one retaining surface, riveting, swaging, cold shaping, welding.  
     
     
         8 . The implant device of  claim 1  further comprising at least one gripping surface for improving fixation strength.  
     
     
         9 . The implant device of  claim 8  wherein the at least one gripping surface comprises at least one of: at least one barb, at least one spike, at least one hole, at least one slot, ridges, grooves, serrations, teeth, or surface texture.  
     
     
         10 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the retraction of the first biological soft tissue increases the interaction between the implant device and the second biological soft tissue or the bony tissue.  
     
     
         11 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein tension on the first biological soft tissue causes toggling of the implant device, thereby causing interaction with a second biological soft tissue.  
     
     
         12 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the implant device is attachable to the first biological tissue such that the tension of the first biological soft tissue on one side of the biological soft tissue implant is less than the tension of the biological soft tissue on the opposing side of the biological soft tissue implant.  
     
     
         13 . The implant device of  claim 1  wherein the fastener is attachable to a biceps tendon.  
     
     
         14 . The implant device of  claim 13  wherein the anchor is capable of interacting with a transverse ligament.  
     
     
         15 . The implant device of  claim 13  wherein the anchor is capable of interacting with a sheath of the biceps tendon.  
     
     
         16 . A biological soft tissue implant device comprising: 
 a fastener attachable to a first biological soft tissue; and    an anchor capable of interacting with a second biological soft tissue or a bony tissue such that when tension on the first biological soft tissue is relieved on one side of the biological soft tissue implant device, the interaction of the anchor and second biological soft tissue or bone creates tension on the opposite side of the biological soft tissue implant.    
     
     
         17 . The implant device of  claim 16  wherein the fastener comprises at least one of: at least one spike, ridges, grooves, at least one latch, at least one suture passing through the first biological soft tissue, at least one suture wrapped around the first biological soft tissue, at least one hinge, at least one crimping deformation, engageable cooperating parts, at least one gripping surface, at least one retaining ring, at least one gripping beam, or at least one hook and capture mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . The implant device of  claim 17  wherein the engageable cooperating parts are at least one of: snapably engageable, slidably engageable, hookably engageable, rotatably engageable, or biasedly engageable.  
     
     
         19 . The implant device of  claim 16  wherein the anchor comprises at least one of: at least one barb, at least one spike, at least one flap, at least one bar, at least one beam, at least one hook, a pointed implant end configured to anchor when the implant device toggles, or at least one expansion mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . The implant device of  claim 16  wherein the retraction of the first biological soft tissue increases the interaction between the implant device and the second biological soft tissue or the bony tissue.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a first biological soft tissue comprising attaching a biological soft tissue implant to first damaged biological soft tissue such that the first biological soft tissue implant is capable of interacting with a second biological soft tissue or bone to prevent the first biological soft tissue from retracting beyond a predetermined position.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising tensioning the first biological soft tissue prior to attaching the biological soft tissue implant.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the retraction of the first biological soft tissue strengthens interaction of the biological soft tissue implant with the second biological soft tissue or the bony tissue.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the biological implant is attached to the first biological tissue such that the tension on the first biological soft tissue on one side of the biological soft tissue implant is less than the tension on the first biological soft tissue on the other side of the biological soft tissue implant.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising resecting the first biological soft tissue on the side of the biological soft tissue implant having less tension.